Training ski



April 1965 w. BUCHMULLER 3,178,194

TRAINING SKI Filed Dec. 26, 1962 United States Patent Claims priority, application Canada, Get. 4, 1962, 859,477

3 Claims. (Cl. 280-1113) This invention relates to skis and more particularly to training skis equipped with braking means.

Skis equipped with braking means are known in the art. However, none are particularly suitable for use in training novice skiers as they are more suitable for hill climbing than down hill skiing at reduced speed.

Several prior patents are directed to detachable ski brakes adapted to be secured to the running surface of the skis to assist the skier in climbing hillsl This type of ski brake is then removed. Included in the prior art ski brakes are animal skins removably secured longitudinally or transversely on the underside of the ski. Other patents are directed to lengths of rope secured transversely around the ski and detachabiy secured by attaching means such as snap hooks on the rope ends cooperating with a ring secured to the ski.

It will be appreciated that braking means such as a friction plate of fur bearing animal skin or rope secured to the mid-section of a ski although suitable for hill climbing will not serve the intended purposes of reducing the speed of the novice skier during down hill runs while at the same time allowing the novice to learn to maneuver his or her skis in a manner similar to conventional skis.

The present invention provides broadly a ski for training novice skiers. The ski includes a strip of material comprising a Web provided with bristles extending therefrom rigidly secured to the running surface of the ski, the strip of material being narrower than the width of the running surface and extending substantially the full length of the running surface. In a preferred embodiment there are two such strips of material secured to the running surface, one at each of the marginal side edges.

The skis of the present invention are excellent for training purposes as frictional resistance to forward movement is evenly spread throughout the length of the ski. Furthermore, as the pile strip or strips constituting the ski brakes do not extend completely across the running surface of the ski the remaining running surface provides a comparatively frictionless area and hence the skier is able to negotiate down hill runs at a reduced controlled speed.

A further advantage of the skis of this invention is that the strips of pile fabric secured to the marginal side edges of the skis will tend to keep the skis in substantially parallel relation to one another. Maintaining this parallel relationship is usually a serious problem to novice skiers.

In the drawing which illustrates embodiments of the invention:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of the running surface of a ski constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational View of the ski of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the ski taken along the lines of 3-3 of FIG. 1, and

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view similar to FIG. 3 of a ski having conventional steel edges showing pile strips of this invention secured to the running surface of the steel edges and the ski.

3,178,194 Patented Apr. 13, 1965 Referring now in detail to the drawings, a conventional ski is illustrated at 10 in FIG. 1. The term conventional ski may include, wooden skis, laminated wooden skis, and skis constructed partly or wholly of wood, metal, plastic or other suitable materials.

The ski 10 includes a running surface 11, which may comprise a plastic base 12 as shown in FIG. 4. A longitudinally extending center groove 13 is also provided in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4.

Strips of pile fabric or for bearing animal skin 14 and 15 are rigidly secured to the marginal side edges 16 and 17 of the running surface 11 with bristles 24 extending outwardly therefrom. In this invention the strips 14 and 15 may consist of any suitable web of natural or synthetic material having bristles extending therefrom including animal pelts such as for example seal skin and pile fabric. The material selected should have bristles inclined in one direction or should be capable of having the bristles so oriented. The strips 14 and 15 extend from a point adjacent the tip 19 of the ski to the trailing end edge 20 of the ski 10. It is important that the strips extend well beyond the bend 21 of the ski as this will assist in preventing snow forcing a separation between the pile strips 14 and 15 and the running surface at the forward ends 22 and 23 of the strips.

It is also important that the bristles or hair 24 of the strips of pile fabric or fur bearing skin 14 and 15 be inclined toward the trailing end edge 20 of the ski 10.

The strips 14 and 15 are rigidly secured to the running surface by suitable means such as tacks, nails or adhesives (not shown). It is essential that a water proof adhesive be used and different adhesives should be selected dependent upon the material of the strips and the material comprising the running surface of the ski.

In the alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 4 the ski 10 is equipped with conventional steel edges 25 and 26. Strips of pile fabric 14' and 15' are secured to the steel edges 25 and 26 and also extend to the base 11 of the ski adjacent the steel edges. This facilitates the conversion of the training ski to a conventional ski when-the skier has become more competent.

The strips attached to the ski may be of varying widths and may be quite broad for the initial stages of the skiers training and be gradually reduced in width by cutting away longitudinal strips. as the competence of the skier increases.

It will be apparent that modifications will occur to those skilled in the art such as the provision of a single strip of pile fabric extending longitudinally at the center line of the ski. Such modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A ski for training novice skiers said ski comprising, a running surface; and two strips of material comprising a web provided with bristles extending therefrom adhesively secured to said running surface one such strip being secured along each marginal side edge thereof and having said bristles extending outwardly from said surface, each said strip extending substantially the full length of said running surface.

2. A ski for training novice skiers said ski comprising a running surface, and two strips of pile fabric having bristles extending therefrom, one such strip being adhesively secured along each marginal side edge thereof and having said bristles extending outwardly from said surface,

each said strip extending substantially the full length of said running surface.

3. A ski for training novice skiers said ski comprising a running surface, and two strips of fur bearing animal skin having hair extending therefrom, one such strip being adhesively secured along each marginal side edge thereof and having said hair extending outwardly from said surface, each said strip extending substantially the full length of said running surface. a

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS A. HARRY LEVY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A SKI FOR TRAINING NOVICE SKIERS SAID SKI COMPRISING, A RUNNING SURFACE; AND TWO STRIPS OF MATERIAL COMPRISING A WEB PROVIDED WITH BRISTLES EXTENDING THEREFROM ADHESIVELY SECURED TO SAID RUNNING SURFACE ONE SUCH STRIP BEING SECURED ALONG EACH MARGINAL SIDE EDGE THEREOF AND HAVING SAID BRISTLES EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM SAID SURFACE, EACH SAID STRIP EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY THE FULL LENGTH OF SAID RUNNING SURFACE. 